Problem shutting down non-responding apps in XP SP1

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Observer

One of the touted features of XP is the ability to shut down frozen apps and
continue to use the computer. However, I must be doing something wrong,
because when this happens, I usually can't shut down the frozen app using
Task Manager, and as long as the app is not responding, the computer is
unusable. I have attempted shutting down the computer completely using the
Shutdown menu item or the Start menu, but this seldom works. Eventually, out
of frustration, I hit the reset button, knowing that I'm in for more trouble
for doing that, as this action always seems to damage files and/or folders
on my HD.

At the very least, my HD will be checked when I reboot, and errors on the
drive will be found and corrected, after which the computer will probably
boot. At worst, the computer can not be made to boot, even using F8 to
select last good config, system restore or safe mode. Regarding safe mode,
after the screen with the Administrator account icon, safe mode boots into a
black screen with only the "Safe Mode" text in the corners. Is this a
related problem?

When I get this far, the only remedy seems to be to boot from the install
CD, and repair the installation. It seems that I have to do this far too
often, sometimes two or three times a week. I even did a clean installation
on a separate hard drive, and this exhibits the same problem.

The app that seems to freeze most often is PowerDesk 5, a Windows Explorer
replacement file manager, although other apps also freeze. Even Task Manager
has frozen at times, as have IE 6 and OE 6.

I am running XP Pro, SP1 on an Athlon XP 1900+. I am not a novice with
computers (about 20 years using and maintaining PCs), but this has me
stumped and almost ready to go to Linux (although I have no experience
there).

Thanks for any help you can provide,

Jim
 
One of the touted features of XP is the ability to shut down frozen apps and
continue to use the computer. However, I must be doing something wrong,
because when this happens, I usually can't shut down the frozen app using
Task Manager, and as long as the app is not responding, the computer is
unusable. I have attempted shutting down the computer completely using the
Shutdown menu item or the Start menu, but this seldom works. Eventually, out
of frustration, I hit the reset button, knowing that I'm in for more trouble
for doing that, as this action always seems to damage files and/or folders
on my HD.

At the very least, my HD will be checked when I reboot, and errors on the
drive will be found and corrected, after which the computer will probably
boot. At worst, the computer can not be made to boot, even using F8 to
select last good config, system restore or safe mode. Regarding safe mode,
after the screen with the Administrator account icon, safe mode boots into a
black screen with only the "Safe Mode" text in the corners. Is this a
related problem?

When I get this far, the only remedy seems to be to boot from the install
CD, and repair the installation. It seems that I have to do this far too
often, sometimes two or three times a week. I even did a clean installation
on a separate hard drive, and this exhibits the same problem.

The app that seems to freeze most often is PowerDesk 5, a Windows Explorer
replacement file manager, although other apps also freeze. Even Task Manager
has frozen at times, as have IE 6 and OE 6.

I am running XP Pro, SP1 on an Athlon XP 1900+. I am not a novice with
computers (about 20 years using and maintaining PCs), but this has me
stumped and almost ready to go to Linux (although I have no experience
there).

Thanks for any help you can provide,

Jim
Click to expand...

Jim,

Do other apps, like Task Manager, freeze when PowerDesk is NOT running?

The first thing I'd do, if I were you, is check for spyware and viruses.

How current is your virus protection? Try these free online virus scans, to
complement your current protection:
<http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php>
<http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm>
<http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/>
<http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp>
<http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp>

Now check for, and learn to defend against, additional carriers of infection.
Have you downloaded these programs before? Download them again, as many are
revised frequently, to keep up with the current level of malware being attempted
constantly - get the absolutely most current version of each product listed.
They're all free - and most pretty small, so they download quickly enough.

First, download LSP-Fix and WinsockXPFIx from <http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm>,
and CWShredder from <http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html>. All are
free.

Next, close all Internet Explorer and Outlook windows, then run CWShredder.
Have it fix all variants.

Now check for, and remove, spyware. Get HijackThis
<http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155> and Spybot S&D
<http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download>. Both free.
1) Install and run Spybot. First update it ("Search for updates"), then run a
scan ("Check for problems"). Trust Spybot, and make all recommended deletions.
2) Install and run HijackThis. Do NOT make any changes immediately. Save the
HJT Log. <http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=227>
3) Have your HJT log interpreted by experts at one or more of the following
forums (and post it, or a link to your forum post, here):
<http://forums.net-integration.net/>
<http://forums.spywareinfo.com/>
<http://forums.tomcoyote.org/>
<http://www.wilderssecurity.com/>

If removal of any spyware affects your ability to access the internet (some
spyware builds itself into the network software, and its removal may damage your
network), run LSP-Fix and / or WinsockXPFIx.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
 
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